East Peoria man sentenced for Caterpillar theft

PEKIN – An East Peoria man was sentenced to seven years in prison after he pleaded guilty to stealing pricy equipment from Caterpillar Inc.

The Pekin Daily Times reports (http://bit.ly/1sRl21m ) 50-year-old John Peters pleaded guilty to felony theft charges. Authorities say he and another man stole items valued at about $1 million from the Peoria-based manufacturing company. They made almost $500,000 re-selling the goods on eBay.

Investigators say Peters used the money to buy motorcycle equipment and other items.

Another man, 35-year-old Eliot J. Wells, was sentenced to five years in prison in March after he agreed to plead guilty.

Both men had ties to the Peoria-based heavy equipment maker, working for a contractor.